SPRU research team

• Mark Wilberforce
• Eleni Kampanellou

External collaborators

• David Challis, Personal Social Services Research Unit, University of Manchester
• Jane Hughes, Personal Social Services Research Unit, University of Manchester
• Michele Abendstern, Personal Social Services Research Unit, University of Manchester

Project summary

The question of how to best use social workers’ unique skills and knowledge multidisciplinary mental health teams has been a long-standing concern. Much of the existing research is dated, and little is heard of the perspectives and experiences of service users regarding the work social workers do. The study uses mixed methods comprising three interdependent work packages. In the first characteristics and experiences of CMHT service users supported by social workers, as compared to other CMHT practitioners, will be explored through a mix of case audit and postal survey research. The second will seek to understand social worker and other practitioner perspectives through focus groups and survey methods. Finally, the extent to which service users value different social worker functions will be the subject of a stated preference study (‘Best Worst Scaling’). All the work will be guided by a lay reference group.

Additional information